The National Assembly Anti-money Laundering and Cyber Security Coalition has begun a partnership to curb cyber crime, money laundering, currency trafficking and other financial crimes.
The Chairman of the coalition, Senator Fatimat Raji-Rasaki (PDP-Ekiti), announced the plan in Abuja on Friday at a meeting with the Presidency, the Central Bank of Nigeria, bureau de change owners, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other stakeholders.
Raji-Fasaki said it had become pertinent for Nigeria to align itself with the global initiative against terror financing, cybercrimes, currency trafficking and money laundering.
Raji-Rasaki added that the partnership was born out of the realisation that huge financial losses through such financial crimes had become a threat to the nation.
She said the collaboration with strategic partners, particularly the CBN, was to discuss ways to align foreign exchange operations with international best practices.
She noted that in line with the anti-corruption drive of President Muhammadu Buhari, the coalition aimed to meet the expectations of Nigerians to kick out crimes denting the image of the nation internationally.
She said: “The summit will provide a platform for leaders of foreign exchange institutions, industries, regulators and legislators to discuss the emerging trends and innovations in foreign exchange operations.
“This is why it is facilitated by the Cyber Security and Accountability Centre, our technical partners, who has the capacity to coordinate this initiative.”
Raji-Rasaki added that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission and the EFCC should prepare to furnish the coalition with relevant reports when requested.
Senator Ali Wakili (APC-Bauchi) said the coalition would proffer possible solutions to the high rate of transnational crimes perpetrated by Nigerians, which had negatively affected the image of the country.
Wakili noted that bad governance led to cybercrime, adding that the legislative agenda of the eighth Senate would ensure it upheld the law that criminalised cybercrime.
Present at the meeting were representatives of the CBN, NNPC, Association of Bureau De Change Operators, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, ICPC and other stakeholders.
NAN.